Paint can splash protector with handle



e 1952 c. WELLS 2,601,190

PAINT CAN SPLASH PROTECTOR WITH HANDLE Filed Jan. 24, 1950 JNVENTORAC/mnd/e/ M/e//5 Patented June 17, 1952 PAINT CAN SPLASH PROTECTOR WITHHANDLE Chandler Wells, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor of one-fourth toElizabeth Shepard,

Orchard Park, one-fourth to Jane Urban, Buffalo, and one-fourth to AnneLouise Weller, South Brighton, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1950, Serial No. 1 10,321

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to the receptacle art and especially to anattachment for the receptacle for use in the home to insure cleanlinessin the handling of the contents, and while the disclosure herein makesreference particularly to its use on paint cans, the invention has abroader application, as will be described later herein.

The paint can most generally used has a rim about its top margin intowhich a cover is frictionally fitted. The rim has a sealing groovethereabout over which extends a peripheral flange for more effectivelysealing the contents. In use, the brush is dipped in the paint and then,when withdrawn, is wiped over the inner margin of the rim to removeexcess paint. Repeated operations of this sort result in the excesspaint being pulled over into the sealing groove and eventually over theedge of the can which produces a messy condition for handling thereceptacle and for replacing the cover, the condition being augmented bypossible drippings from the brush.

An important object of this invention is to provide a receptacleattachment which is practical in serving to protect the rim and outersurface of the receptacle from being spilled onto or splashed over byfluent material when it is dipped from or poured into the receptacleand, again, to provide a device of this nature simple in design andembodying novel receptacle carrying means by which it is uniquelyanchored to the receptacle.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as thisdescription progresses, reference being made therein to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Fig. l is a cross sectional view of a protective deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention and showing anapplied use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the protector; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view depicting the manner of mounting thecombined receptacle carrying and protector anchoring bail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates thereceptacle, such as a can having a top rim 2 for frictionally receivingthe usual cover, not shown. This rim is provided with the sealing groove3 thereabout for receiving an annular rib on the cover, and the innermargin of the rim is frequently turned with a head 4.

This type of can is used for vending paint and when in use a painterwill wipe his brush over the head 4 to remove excess paint which, afterrepeated wipings, will be pulled over into the groove 3 and even overonto the side' of the can 2 to create a messy condition. Furthermore,when the cover is replaced upon the can the paint in the groove 3 willbe squeezed out over the side of the can and enlarge upon the messcreated.

In accordance with the present invention a protector is provided in theform of an annular body 5, its inner margin turned downwardly to form aflange or skirt 6 and its outer margin turned upwardly to provide aretaining lip I. The lip may overhang the'side of the can outwardly fora safe distance to prevent the paint dripping from the lifted brush ontothe side of the can. This lip preferably is turned or rolled upwardlyand when so shaped is merged into the body 5, which latter slopesdownwardly across the rim 2 to drain through the throat as defined bythe skirt 6, joining therewith in a wiping edge 8.

In use, the painter will wipe his brush over the edge 8 so that the bulkof the excess paint will be scraped off to return to the can while anystray dripping from a lifted brush will be caught by the body 5, or bythe lip I.

The protector may be formed from sheet metal or other suitable material,molded or otherwise, and the depending skirt 6 may taper slightly in adownward direction to facilitate introducing the same into the mouthdefined by the rim of the can.

For securing the protector in position onthe receptacle, there isprovided a latch or detent preferably in the form of a U-shaped wirebail 9 having its opposite terminals deflected outwardly to formtrunnions ID for projection through openings I l in the skirt 6 forengagement beneath and interlocking with the shoulder forming rim of thecan. This also adapts and constitutes the handle as a carrying handlefor the receptacle and when so assembled on the latter it is securedagainst accidental disengagement from the rim, as by having thetrunnions disposed at a slight inclination upwardly, see Fig. 1. Theprotector is readily placeable and replaceable by springing the legs ofthe ball 9 together, as indicated by the broken lines, to retract thelatch-constituting trunnions. When released, the trunnions will springoutwardly due to the inherent resiliency of the bail.

To prevent full and complete displacement of the latching trunnions fromthe openings 1 I, said trunnions have their outer extremities deflectedto form stop lugs l2 which, when in a receptaclecarrying position, areimpassable through the openings II, the latter being of slot form andextending circumferentially about the skirt. When the handle is in thebroken line position of Fig. 3, it may then be removed since the stoplugs will therein be alined with the slots. The skirt may be offsetinwardly beneath or about the slots, as at [3, to receive the stop lugsand thereby facilitate placement and replacement of the protector sincethe lugs will then be disposed within the body lines of the skirt andprotected against snagging on the rim of the can.

While the splash or drip protector has been described as an attachmentfor paint cans it will find other uses in the home, such as in canningand preserving where its use will facilitate the filling of thereceptacle and thecarrying-of the filled receptacle to the place forbeing-sealed.

The protective accessoryis practical and economical in construction. Itnot only serves to cover the rim with its groove and-toprotect the sideof the can by overhanging it a distance, but it also provides a carryinghandle for the receptacle when coupled thereto and for the protectoralone when detached from the receptacle.

'Theforegoing description has been given in detail without thought-oflimitation since the inventiveprinciples involvedare capable of assuminother:physical-embodiments without departing from thespiritof theinvention and the scope of theappended claim.

What is claimedis:

A splashj'protector for use with an open end container, the opening in 1the :container being defined'by' an inwardly 'projecting annular rim,said protector'having'zan annular'inwardly inclined body portionoverlying said rim, and an inner downwardly turned marginal cylindricalflange terminatingsina'free edge'received within the opening defined bythe inwardly projecting rim of the receptacles, said flange projectingsubstantially below the rim of the receptacle and being provided withdiametrically formed elongated openings below saidrim, and a handleforming bail made from spring wire and having its terminals angularlydirected in opposite directions from within said flange outwardlythrough the openings therein into interlocking engagement with the undersurface of said rim, the

"extremities of the spring wire bail being deflected to form stop lugsto prevent removal of the bail through said'opem'ngs when said bail isin its verticalposition, whereby said splash protector issecured'against vertical displacement and the extremities of said handleare positioned to permit lifting .oftheireceptacle and the protectorwhen the parts are assembled.

CHANDLER WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

